@badabingbucs he just needs pressure. Meaning some competition, I do expect a better year from him but he will get hurt. That's just not going to magically stop happening .
Bowles loves this guy. I don't think we are going to cut Dean even though we don't even play to his strengths. Good player that's often injured and asked to play in a scheme that doesn't really maximize his true potential. And at 29, he is pretty much maxed out as a player. There isn't a ton much of improvement he will make. He could get lucky and somehow not manage to miss games. That's possible but very low end possibility of that. I'd just let him play the contract out at this point and then let Morrison take the reins.
Dean is not t that good of CB anymore especially with the Bucs heavy zone scheme. Dean is a willing tackler but his mental awareness is of a child when playing off coverage or having to break on the ball to stop a player from reaching the sticks which is why he gives up too many first downs even when healthy. When Hayes who is less experienced than Dean looks more competent in off coverage that is a problem. A novice at boundary CB understands playing to the stick and how to play off coverage better than Dean. Dean is a veteran and makes too many mental mistakes and only covers it up with his play when the Bucs rarely play m2m.
Dean's obvious gift is playing m2m which is why he is still the best m2m roster and he was missed against the Commanders. But the Bucs don't really need Dean now that they have Morrison and Parrish who can play m2m but are just as gifted in cover 3 and off coverage.
Personally I think the Bucs are okay with Dean sticking around if he is the starter or the third man up off the bench. Hall is more likely to breathe down his neck than Morrison. Vidal isn't a real threat to take the job from Dean but he is more of a precaution if Dean, Hall, and Morrison are all injured which is very unlikely.
But depth at CB has been an issue for this team post SB for the Bucs and the Bucs FO finally threw in the towel with Davis last year and are about to do it with Dean this year or the next.
We went 9-3 in games where Dean played last season.
Compare that to our 1-4 record in games without him, including a 4 game losing streak.
Totally get calling him injury prone, but to say he’s not that good is just a bad take. We’re proven a better team with him in the lineup.
Dean is a good CB. He's just not reliably on the field. He's got competition and needs a new contract. We should see the best he has to offer.
I think the odds are that Dean misses 5-7 games due to injury rather than Dean having a career year.
The common phrase "the best ability is availability" comes to mind in regard to Dean.
exactly.
I would think he's in a bit of a Catch-22 with the Bucs because he needs a healthy season and a strong performance for his own career, but if that appears THIS year the Bucs would have to be a little skeptical of his past lack of performance/availability
Play Dean, hard, early. Let him try to earn a contract - anywhere.
When he breaks, Morrison should be ready.
There’s your 5 - 7 games, maximized. Let him fight to get back on the field, or take his time to get healthy.
Maximize what you know will happen.
Doing his best to talk the talk
"It’s a great feeling knowing that we got some new pieces but we know they’re going to be great. They’re going to be very beneficial for our team,” Dean said. “And then just seeing everybody showing up for OTAs right now, building this camaraderie right now. You have no choice but to be confident this is your team.”
Are the Super Bowl ingredients in place, Jamel?
“Oh, yeah, this is definitely a group that can make it to a Super Bowl,” Dean said. “We just got to make sure we all hone in and just stay within our plans.”